With cities across the country seeking to find innovative and economical solutions to problems caused by combined sewer systems, could Philly's popular Green City, Clean Waters program be a model worth copying?
Paul McRandle reports on the city's multifaceted effort "to address the city's storm-water runoff problem, improve streets, benefit the community, and create jobs." Launched in 2010, the Philadelphia Water Department's Green City, Clean Waters program consists of elements such as green roofs, porous paving, storm-water planters, rain gardens, and rain barrels that are intended to protect and enhance the city's watersheds in a more cost-effective way than investing in more "gray infrastructure."
McRandle notes the city's long history of water innovation, which includes "Ben Franklin's swim fins and glass armonica" and the more recent invention of permeable paving by the Franklin Institute in 1977.
With successes so far including the completion of 35 "green street blocks," the removal of 10,000 square feet of impervious paving, and the completion of sixteen green school projects, Green City, Clean Waters is well on its way to claiming its own place in the history books.
FULL STORY: Philadelphia Cleans Up Storm Water With Innovative Program

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

Cal Fire Chatbot Fails to Answer Basic Questions
An AI chatbot designed to provide information about wildfires can’t answer questions about evacuation orders, among other problems.

What Happens if Trump Kills Section 8?
The Trump admin aims to slash federal rental aid by nearly half and shift distribution to states. Experts warn this could spike homelessness and destabilize communities nationwide.

Sean Duffy Targets Rainbow Crosswalks in Road Safety Efforts
Despite evidence that colorful crosswalks actually improve intersection safety — and the lack of almost any crosswalks at all on the nation’s most dangerous arterial roads — U.S. Transportation Secretary Duffy is calling on states to remove them.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie